Branden Durst
Republican | Idaho
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Branden Durst
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
Supt. of Public Instruction
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Boise State University, Boise, MPA, 2007
Pacific Lutheran University, Parkland, BA, 2003
Boise State University, Boise, EdS, 2022 (exp)
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Young Life Boise, Committee Member, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Idaho Bowl Breakfast Committee, Plumblined Foundation, Chairman of the Board
Cloverdale Church of God, Licensed Pastor
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Senator (ID), 2012-2013
State Representative (ID), 2006-2010
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
Christy Zito
ConservativesOf: Idaho
Stop Idaho RINOs PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (7)
Bonneville County GOP (recommended candidate)
Kootenai County GOP (recommended candidate)
Bonner County GOP (recommended candidate)
Stop Idaho RINOS
ConservativesOf PAC
OTHER INFORMATION
Vote ratings from Vote Smart.
2022 Idaho GOP voter guide
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Agree
After three years of effort, I along with others finally passed the No Public Funds for Abortion Act, which prohibits any taxpayer money going to any abortion provider. That includes school districts partnering with Planned Parenthood. Not only was I the original author of the law, I also authored the Idaho GOP platform plank that stated the same.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
A life is a life, no matter how it was conceived and life should always be protected.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I do not support the public funding of pre-k education. I do believe we need to have money follow students to their parent's school of choice, whether that is a traditional public school, a religious private school or anything else. As far as college is concerned, I do think that as long as the government is funding post secondary institutions, those institutions should better reflect the ideology of the states in which they are located.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Strongly Agree
I personally believe that it was the government's involvement in marriage that caused it to collapse. Marriage is a Godly institution. I do not think that the government should be in the marriage business at all because that is the providence of the Church.
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Strongly Disagree
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
More than that, those opportunities should be provided so that faith is not stifled. We took God our of the public school and we are experiencing the foolishness of that decision right now.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
EDUCATION
Every state should mandate K-12 standardized tests and the use of teaching software which aligns with Common Core standards.
Strongly Disagree
I am strongly opposed to Common Core and have made abolishing it a key piece of my platform. That includes leaving the Smarter Balanced Consortium.
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Strongly Agree
100% agree and I have a plan to help them do so. I'd add that parents should be ale to decide if their children are vaccinated, masked and what curriculum their children are exposed to. Parents must be put back in the driver's seat of the children's education.
Before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL), they must opt-in with written parental permission.
Strongly Agree
I agree with opt-in, however, I don't think that those things should be taught in public schools at all.
I support the teaching of curricula (such as the 1619 Project, No Place for Hate, Second Step, etc.) that emphasizes slavery and racism as the foundation of American history.
Strongly Disagree
I support the 1776 commission. We must not whitewash our history, but we mustn't also needlessly interject racially divisive content.
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Strongly Agree
Outside of Title funds, I support eliminating nearly all federal dollars.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christ follower. I believe in the triune God. I believe we have fallen and only through grace can we be saved. I have been a Christian for over half of my life and was water baptized on January 2, 2000, my spiritual birthday. My faith is central to everything in my life and it informs every decision that I make.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I would have to look into this further. Hopefully the endorsements I have received provide the evidence that these are my sincerely held beliefs.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What books have had the most profound impact on your view of life?
Beyond the Bible, the book, "The Blessing" had a huge impact on me. I highly recommend it.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I love Jesus. I am in this race to serve Him.
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2012 Democratic Primary 2012 General Election 2014 Democratic Primary 2014 Republican Primary 2014 General Election 2016 Democratic Primary 2016 Republican Primary 2016 General Election 2018 General Election 2020 Republican Primary 2020 General Election
I switched parties in 2016. In 2014 & 2016 I was living in Washington State and they had open top two primary. I missed the 2018 primary because I moved back to Idaho in May immediately after the primary.
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Agree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Do you support mandatory vaccinations for children attending public school?
No, parents should make that decision.
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
And I'll take it a step further. I believe the state board of education should have passed a new board policy prohibiting districts from requiring masks.
